Category Archives: Music

Monthly Recommendations: September 2018

by Dæv Tremblay

Andrew Bernstein – An Exploded View of Time

To the neophyte, a simple saxophone can hardly stand on its own, musically speaking. To the virtuoso, however, nothing is out of reach for that metal cylindre. To the beholder, only beauty can be found.

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Doom Shrugs – The Clairolfactant and the Flatulent Ghost

With its dissonances, rhythmic caprices, and overall eccentric character you can already appreciate the unique fragrance of the group.

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Five Pound Pocket Universe – Brain Bubble Party

There are very few musical territories left untouched by the quill of Michel and Five Pound Pocket

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Devin Drobka’s Bell Dance Songs – Amaranth

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

The mouthfully-baptised Devin Drobka’s Bell Dance Songs band is a quintet made of three woodwind players, one acoustic bass player, and a drums person that also acts as the composer: the aforementioned Devin Drobka. It is without a surprise that you will read my words telling you that this is a merciless sonic assault! Amaranth came out on 28 September through Shifting Paradigm Records. Let’s dissect the beast.

The album loses no time to show its colours. At the fluid-tempoed start of “Skip Skip” and the dialogue between the bass and the drums, it’s quite fun … Read more

Andrew Bernstein – An Exploded View of Time

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Andrew Bernstein is a saxophone player and composer most recognized for his involvement in experimental band Horse Lords. He is releasing his latest album, An Exploded View of Time, through Hausu Mountain Records.

When listening to it, I can’t help but summon a comparison with saxophone virtuoso Colin Stetson. Of course, the palette of solo sax releases is pretty wide even for this relatively niche and narrow canvas, but the choice of techniques and soundscapes with which Andrew decided to paint it are remarkably similar. A short list of those include overblowing, circular … Read more

Weekly Release Dump: Voters’ Rights Edition

by Dæv Tremblay

Today is a special day. Bandcamp is donating all of their profits to the Voting Rights Project, to defend and improve the rights of voters in the United States. To read more on the subject and what Bandcamp is doing for this occasion, please click this link that will lead you to their website. My little contribution is this release dump post (for this occasion, I even included all upcoming releases of which I’m keeping track (you’re welcome). Your contribution can be any amount of money you can spare for one album or more. Alternatively, you can share … Read more

Scherzoo – 04

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

French entity Scherzoo is no newcomer to the prog scene, as you might have deduced by looking at the album name—04—referring to it being their fourth. The mastermind behind it, François Thollot, also released music under his own name, but is here joined by Clément Curaudeau of Süryabonali, Grégoire Plancher, and Anthony Pontet. 04 is one the latest release under the legendary Soleil Zeuhl label. So, let’s take a look at it!

In under forty-five minutes, François and Scherzoo take us to the land of progressive rock. 04 being an instrumental release, it … Read more